, 1887-01-12
Bismarck and Won Moltke Address
The Reichstag.

N""ueu Jay, thc occaslOn DelnR TN
calling up Of the government military bill
in its amended form for second reading
Gen. Won Moltke opened the debate il
favor OF a second reading of the bill OF
behalf of the government. He said h,
did not believe that any state should as
sumo the responsibility of increasing the
supply of combustible material which al
present existed in greater or less degree
everywhere. Strong governments, he
continued, were the best guarantee Of
peace, while the danger lay in the ambi.
ton Of party leaders and their influence
on public opinion. If any state, said
Won Moltkc, can work effectively to pre-
serve peace, it is Germany, who remains
solely On the defensive. For this she
must be strong and prepared for war.
Should We, against our will, he continued,
be involved in war, we shall be able to
wage it. If this bill is rejected we shall
most certainly have war. To-day vote
in the reichstag on this measure will not
fail to have its effect abroad. The arm
alone renders possible the protection to all
other political institutions which must
stand or fall with it. A grant for a short
term will not be acceptable. The eyes of
Europe are fixed upon this body. APP
peal to your patriotism to adopt the bill
and show the world your readiness to
make any sacrifice, wei of your own adj
verse opinion, If the well being of the
fatherland is at stake.
Baron St~auffenberg followed Gen. Won
Moltke and while he was speaking Prince
Bismarck entered the chambers. At the
conclusion Of Baron Stauffenberg' speech,
Prince Bismarck rose. He said: THE
desire of all military authorities Of the
empire is only opposed by Herr Richter,
Herr Windthorst and Herr Grillenberger.
it was difficult to conclude peace at Frank
fort, and it is still more difficult to main
tain it. A degree of intimacy and mutual
confidence exists between Germany and
Austria such as never existed at any
period of German federation. We are
bound to maintain peace for this quarter
of the globe; but for this a strong army
is required. Our relations with all the
powers are of the best, and our good re-
lations with Russia are beyond all doubt.
| should have considered entering upon
war ON account of Bulgaria, as an act of
treason against my country.
Prince Bismarck continued: What
is Bulgaria to US? 1t is all the same to
US who ever governs there. The friend
ship OF Russia is surely more important
to us than that of Bulgaria. We have
not allowed ourselves to be induced by
any one to make an enemy Of Russia for
the sake OF Bulgaria. To maintain good
relations among the powers is more diff
cult than you think. We cannot allow
our efforts to be nullifed by journalistic or
parliamentary attacks. Our relations
with France continue good. To maintain
them is difficult, because a long historical
process must be accomplished before the
ieelihgs oil the past are appeased and
uineicnces rceohciieu. we ave done
everything to induce the French to forget
and forgive. We have no present ground
10 apprehehu war with france. Neither
nave we ~ reason 10 iear II IL II should
happen mere can DC no question about
our a''ackihg France out we must pro-
'ec. ourselves against attacks. Under no
oruinarS circumstance man we attack
FRANCE out we shali always Dc compelled
10 arm ourselves IN such a manner as to
" equai u '"e Contingency Oh war Inns
10 '"e supreme OBJECT OIL the army Dill.
, nave urn confluence IN the peaceful
u''pos'''on u 'ne french government
anu d portion vi .he riehch people, stili
''' past 'ea'nes US .na' VIC cannot count
apo" peace win france as permanent
a so'e'nihen may one Jay come INTO
power III ar's winch VIII make war upon
Us ihis you must take INTO account
VIC uo uo "o'-h you say eo'uay' when
""en war COMES we shall grant everything
We s"ai' DC ,aughed at IS there IN
niahoe singio paper or single puplic
p','o' WIZ says we lehounce our
,isn'S 10 Aiscacchorraine' Inc posi-
o"''s Vi iie"oh aggression Is therefore
Il sun'c'en' motive. Tor the DILL France Is
IL atiopR a"u well ariheu power. iier